About
Welcome to Maison Maitland
Maison Maitland is a palladian style manor perched on five rolling acres overlooking the beautiful St Lawrence River. Built in 1828, the Georgian period stone home was designed by a British architect for Lord George Longley. Formally called Maplehurst Manor, it is considered one of Brockville’s premier properties and a fine example of Neoclassic and Regency design.
Maison Maitland’s offers Cooking Classes and overnight accommodations with two beautiful holiday villas – The Villas of Maison Maitland. Built between the stone walls of the original carriage house, the 2 bedroom Villas offer a unique venue for your next gathering with friends. Whether it’s a retreat, creative inspiration time, a milestone celebration, or a reunion weekend, let Maison Maitland be your host.
Located in the quaint village of Maitland, five kilometers east of Brockville, Maison Maitland was originally part of a 350 acre working farm. Across the road In 1828, George Longley built the Longley Tower (now called the Maitland Tower) on the banks of the St. Lawrence. First, it was a windmill turned distillery. And then with the help of steam, later became one of the first flour mills in the area. He also built a general store and post office. The tower and buildings still stand proudly today. The tower and Chart House have been restored and the remaining buildings and surrounding lands are under transformation.To learn more, visit Maitland Tower.
The History of the Village of Maitland: Indigenous peoples lived along both sides of the St. Lawrence River for thousands of years. The first people known to have encountered the Europeans in the area were the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, a group distinct from and preceding the Iroquois nations of the Haudenosaunee, based further to the south. While the explorer Cartier recorded about 200 words in their Laurentian language and the names of two villages, the people had disappeared from the area by the late 16th century. The village was briefly settled in the 1750s by the French who established a shipyard and small fort; they called this settlement Pointe au Baril. After the French were forced out and the area was primarily settled by the British, becoming the village of Maitland. The village was named after Sir Peregrine Maitland, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. Presently, the village consists mainly of residential properties with some businesses located inside the village proper. The village of Maitland is the oldest continuous village in Ontario.
Cynthia Peters
Owner & Chef Instructor
Cynthia Peters is the founder and owner of From the Farm Enterprises, a culinary experiences company established in 2010. She welcomes guests to Maison Maitland Cooking School & Villas, an elegant European-inspired stone manor located in Ontario’s picturesque Brockville and 1000 Islands region. Through her Women’s Culinary Adventures brand, Cynthia also leads annual immersive culinary journeys to Southern France, offering guests authentic food, wine, and cultural experiences.
A respected culinary entrepreneur, author, and media personality, Cynthia has spent more than two decades championing local food, culinary tourism, and food education. An Honours Graduate of Liaison College of Culinary Arts, she combines formal culinary training with a lifelong passion for food, hospitality, and storytelling.
Prior to her culinary career, Cynthia was a communications executive and later founded and served as Managing Editor of Local Tastes magazine, a publication of the Metroland Media Group. She is the author of The Art of Herbs and My French Cookbook, a regular contributor to Harrowsmith Magazine, and the Host and Associate Producer of
The French County Kitchen, a regional cooking series streaming on Bell Fibe TV1.
Known for her seasonal approach to cooking and appreciation for bold flavours and textures, Cynthia draws inspiration from a personal collection of more than 600 cookbooks and a deep respect for culinary traditions from around the world.
An active advocate for food and tourism development, Cynthia has served on the boards of numerous provincial and regional organizations, including FoodShare, the Ontario Association of Food Banks, and Taste the County. She currently serves as a Board Member of the Bloom Local Food Fund of Eastern Ontario and RTO 9 Regional Tourism Organization, helping to advance sustainable food systems and tourism across the region.